Grow a BIGGER Brain with One Simple Move
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 19, 2022
Okay, I’ll admit I may have been accused of being a fathead a few times in my life.
But I’ve got a secret. It doesn’t bother me one little bit.
In fact, I take it as a compliment.
After all, having a bigger brain is a GOOD thing, especially as we age.
And now scientists say there’s a simple way to GROW our own.
You’ve undoubtedly heard that exercise is good for you from head to toe.
In fact, if you’re a regular reader of Living Well Daily, you’ve seen me pointing this out over and over again.
Plus, plenty of research proves that exercise is good for your brain specifically. But now scientists say it may be better than we ever imagined.
Recent research published in the journal Neurology focused on a group of 2,550 volunteers ages 30 to 94. The researchers measured participants’ activity levels and then examined their brains using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The more active people had BIGGER brains than folks who didn’t exercise. And the more they exercised, the greater the benefits were. This effect was especially noticeable in older seniors.
This is important because our brains naturally shrink a bit as we age. And depending on various things, like genetics and lifestyle, some of us have faster and more dramatic shrinkage.
So anything that you can do to slow that shrink is a good idea. But GROWING the brain is even better!
Lucky for us, the researchers concluded that ANY amount of exercise helped increase brain volume.
That means a daily brisk 15-minute walk or committing to always taking the stairs instead of the elevator could really make a difference in the long run.
Now you and I both know that KNOWING something is good for us doesn’t always mean we’re going to do it. So my suggestion is to ease into things. Focus on moving more, not exercising.
Start by spending more time out of your chair and on your feet doing something active. You can garden, clean out the garage, fly a kite with the grandkids, or take the dog for a walk.
WHAT you do isn’t important. Just that it keeps you moving for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
You can stop there, and your brain will LOVE you for it. But once it becomes an ingrained habit, why not keep increasing the time until you reach an hour or more of movement daily?
Remember, even folks who exercise regularly need to unseat their seats often throughout the day to stay healthy. Don’t think you’re finished for the day because you rode your bike for 20 minutes this morning.
Instead, keep looking for opportunities to move around a little bit more, and you can proudly say, “Thanks!” the next time someone accuses you of being a fathead.
P.S. Every time you put on your walking shoes and head out the door, you boost your brain power, help your heart health, improve your blood sugar, and give your mood a HUGE boost. And now researchers have discovered that this brain-boosting mineral could AMPLIFY your exercise efforts even more. I’ve got all the details right here.
Source:
“Association Between Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity Measurements and Brain Structure: A Population-Based Cohort Study,” 2 August 2022, Neurology.
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200884
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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